After six years, the submarines Krasnoyarsk and Tsar Alexander III have been completed at the shipyard in Severodvinsk in the Arkhangelsk region just east of the Kola Peninsula. A further eight nuclear submarines are under construction.
– With such ships and such weapons, Russia will feel safe, Putin said when he visited one of the submarines.
He added that the submarines will strengthen the navy in the Arctic, in the Middle East, in the Black and Baltic Seas, and in the Caspian Sea.
While the war in Ukraine is about to enter its third year, Russia has shifted the focus of its economy to military production, and its defense budget has been greatly increased.
Future large-scale war against Nato
The renowned think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in a analyse that President Putin’s intention is to strengthen and expand Russia’s ability to threaten the West.
“Putin claimed that the Sevmash facility intends to transfer three more Borei-A-class submarines and five Yasen-M-class submarines to the Russian Navy in the coming years,” ISW writes.
“The purpose of the Russian military’s long-term restructuring and expansion efforts is to prepare Russia for a future large-scale conventional war against NATO,” reads the analysis.
ISW further writes that committing costly naval resources in areas outside of Ukraine and Eastern Europe is likely to aim “to threaten NATO and its allies in several regions.”
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Norway will lead a maritime coalition
On Monday, it became known that Norway and Great Britain will lead a maritime coalition that will help Ukraine build coastal and sea defenses.
– It is incredibly important that Ukraine gets better control of its coastal zone. Russia uses the Black Sea as a starting point for missile attacks against the Ukrainian mainland, but also because the open sea routes are incredibly important for Ukraine’s economy and not least for the opportunity to export grain, says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) to NTB.
He is in London to launch the new coalition that will help Ukraine with its naval defence. Several countries will be included in the collaboration, and the main purpose is to coordinate the support.
– Ukraine has needs in all areas, no matter where you turn. By working in such a coalition, we can think more long-term and coordinate support, says Gram.
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Great Britain provides vessels
Gram says Norway has already carried out training of Ukrainian soldiers in small boat operations and will be able to build on this.
– The aim is to further develop the work that allies and partners do to support Ukraine, both in the short and long term. Now the UK, Norway and other countries will help Ukraine build a lasting maritime capacity, says Gram, who explains that the support will require a lot of work for many years to come.
The British Navy announces it is providing two Sandown-class minesweepers, as well as contributing other equipment, training and infrastructure, according to a press release from the British Government.
– These minesweepers will give Ukraine the capacity to save lives at sea and open up vital export routes, which have been severely restricted since Vladimir Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion, says UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps.
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Gram says that it may also be appropriate for Norway to contribute more training, material and expertise. He points out that Norway as a maritime nation has a lot to contribute.
– It will be appropriate to use money from the Nansen program for this. We must look at how we can make the support as effective as possible, he says.
The head of the Norwegian Navy, Oliver Berdal, is also coming to Great Britain.
– There is a lot we can contribute. As I said, we have already contributed a lot with training, equipment and donations. In the future, it is about seeing what is available overall with allies and then tailoring contributions where both the equipment, the training and the training are seen in context so that we support Ukraine optimally from our side.
– Some nations would like to contribute heavily in one area and less in another area, where they do not have as much to contribute, says Berdal.
2023-12-13 21:30:49
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